***The Official AKV Owners And Lovers Thread***. Come And Chat

[yaksack]

Should I bring K cups for the coffee machine or is it just grounds? We are staying at Kidani. We are in a 2br savannah view.

 

[crazycatlady]

Hello everyone,

I have an upcoming trip to WDW on Feb8th-15th 2025. We are family of four, my wife and I, and two boys. We will be staying at BWV

I will be able to leave work earlier on Friday 7th 2025 and I was able to book a flight for that day instead of Feb 8th. I would arrive in orlando around 10pm the night before the BWV check in.

The original plan was to just crash at a nearby hotel, however any decent hotel close to airport is at least $220ish or more. The Hyatt inside MCO is like $420.

I was able to find a seller willing to rent DVC points for a standard view studio for the night of Feb 7th . It would cost me around $270, so not bad.

Even though we would be getting at AKV only around 1030-11pm, I guess the price is not much higher than staying at a nearby airport hotel. I think it makes sense since we can just use bell services the next morning to transfer our luggage to BWV.

My questions are :
1. How easy is to get luggage transferred from one Disney resort to another? Is that something that happens earlier in the morning, later at night? Wondering how I should prepare in case we take advantage of the free water park admission on check in day followed by late afternoon park day

2. If we arrive at AKV around 1045-11pm, will anything be open at that time for us to grab dinner? Does not matter if it is QS or sit down restaurant. If nothing is open, what do you suggest?

Thanks

We always do split stays and having Disney move your luggage for you is very easy, but you may have to wait until late afternoon to get it. My DD and I just did a 4 resort split, with AKL being the last in line. We had Disney move our luggage for each. We called bell services each morning we were moving and they were up to our room to pick up our luggage within 15 minutes. Then, after we were assigned a room at our next resort, we would call down to bell services to have our luggage delivered. At all three of the new resorts, they said that our previous resort had not delivered luggage yet and to call back in an hour. I am pretty sure that we had our luggage by 5:30ish at the latest at all three. We always packed a take-along bag with swimsuits and whatever else we would need for that day to take with us.

 

[Mike valera]

Just got back from 2 bedroom and I can confirm it coffee grounds in the villa

 

[drusba]

Should I bring K cups for the coffee machine or is it just grounds? We are staying at Kidani. We are in a 2br savannah view.

The switch to the combined coffee-maker that can do either grounds or Keurig style is something being done as a resort undergoes its refurb. AKV does not have those yet because its refurbed will not occur until next year.

And if looking beyond the refurb for a stay, be aware that the grounds portion of the coffee-makers being put into the resorts requires a cone-shaped filter, rather than the Mr. Coffee type filter, if you intend to bring filters to use it.

 

[Disneytrippin']

Hello AKV owners. We are going to be staying at your resort this year the first week of November. I own at 3 other resorts but, have always wanted to stay here. Due to my SO telling me a few months ago he wants to go I was only able to secure 3 nights on a split stay and with a standard view. Is there a particular room request I should ask for. We have a 1 bedroom booked.

Please tell me what you recommend we not miss while staying at Kidani, I love Boma and Sanaa so that's on the list. Are there any can't miss activities or things you like to do while chilling at the resort? I am so excited and I may wind up joining you as an owner after my trip.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Please tell me what you recommend we not miss while staying at Kidani, I love Boma and Sanaa so that's on the list. Are there any can't miss activities or things you like to do while chilling at the resort? I am so excited and I may wind up joining you as an owner after my trip.

I love the evening activity in the library where an International CM does a presentation about his/her country. Unfortunately, this activity was a victim of Covid and may or may not have started up again. And if it has, it's a boring activity for most little ones so think twice if you have kids or let them go to Community Hall, which isn't far away.
Also, there used to be an afternoon tour of Sanaa, where a CM would talk about the spices and foods, and point out the relevance of things in the restaurant. And if they've restarted "Lunch with an Animal Keeper" (another victim of Covid)-run to get a spot! I've done it 3 times and loved it.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I love the evening activity in the library where an International CM does a presentation about his/her country. Unfortunately, this activity was a victim of Covid and may or may not have started up again. And if it has, it's a boring activity for most little ones so think twice if you have kids or let them go to Community Hall, which isn't far away.
Also, there used to be an afternoon tour of Sanaa, where a CM would talk about the spices and foods, and point out the relevance of things in the restaurant. And if they've restarted "Lunch with an Animal Keeper" (another victim of Covid)-run to get a spot! I've done it 3 times and loved it.

Sure hope they have begun these activities!

 

[Disneytrippin']

I love the evening activity in the library where an International CM does a presentation about his/her country. Unfortunately, this activity was a victim of Covid and may or may not have started up again. And if it has, it's a boring activity for most little ones so think twice if you have kids or let them go to Community Hall, which isn't far away.
Also, there used to be an afternoon tour of Sanaa, where a CM would talk about the spices and foods, and point out the relevance of things in the restaurant. And if they've restarted "Lunch with an Animal Keeper" (another victim of Covid)-run to get a spot! I've done it 3 times and loved it.

Omigosh. I will definitely look for these. We are four adults so no bored kids.lol Although, my seven year old granddaughter would love any of this

 

[drusba]

Hello AKV owners. We are going to be staying at your resort this year the first week of November. I own at 3 other resorts but, have always wanted to stay here. Due to my SO telling me a few months ago he wants to go I was only able to secure 3 nights on a split stay and with a standard view. Is there a particular room request I should ask for. We have a 1 bedroom booked.

Please tell me what you recommend we not miss while staying at Kidani, I love Boma and Sanaa so that's on the list. Are there any can't miss activities or things you like to do while chilling at the resort? I am so excited and I may wind up joining you as an owner after my trip.

1BRs like other room sizes are located throughout the resort. As to a room location request at Kidani, see the map in post number 4 here www.disboards.com/threads/kidani-map-with-elevators-marked.3558443/#lg=_xfUid-1-1629905447&slide=0 which provides elevator names. The Kidani lobby faces west. The standard view rooms are: (a) all rooms on the south wing (where the Timon elevator is) in the first four building units from the lobby facing road, parking areas. bus station, and front entrance area. There are no rooms on that side of the building in the rest of the building units on the south wing. If you want to be close to the bus station and not far from the lobby you should request a room near the Timon elevator.

On the north wing, there are standard view rooms in the first three building units from the lobby and part of the fourth building unit, all mainly facing the pool area or front entrance area. If your desire is to be close to the pool, the best request would be near the Rafiki elevator. Down that elevator to the first floor (the first floor is actually a parking lot that runs throughout much of the building), leads to a walkway that provides the shortest possible walk from the building to a pool gate.

Then there are the sixth and seventh building units from the lobby, between which is the Pumbaa elevator. All the rooms on the Pembe savanna side of those two building units are standard view but directly overlook the Pembe savanna and thus give you a savanna view. If you want a chance of getting one of those rooms, you should request a room near the Pumbaa elevator. Just be aware that actually getting that request granted will mean you will have a very long walk from room to lobby, store, restaurant, and bus station (Kidani, at near 2/3 mile in length, is one of the longest hotel-like buildings in the world -- and I mean on earth, not just Disney World).

 

[Disneytrippin']

1BRs like other room sizes are located throughout the resort. As to a room location request at Kidani, see the map in post number 4 here www.disboards.com/threads/kidani-map-with-elevators-marked.3558443/#lg=_xfUid-1-1629905447&slide=0 which provides elevator names. The Kidani lobby faces west. The standard view rooms are: (a) all rooms on the south wing (where the Timon elevator is) in the first four building units from the lobby facing road, parking areas. bus station, and front entrance area. There are no rooms on that side of the building in the rest of the building units on the south wing. If you want to be close to the bus station and not far from the lobby you should request a room near the Timon elevator.

On the north wing, there are standard view rooms in the first three building units from the lobby and part of the fourth building unit, all mainly facing the pool area or front entrance area. If your desire is to be close to the pool, the best request would be near the Rafiki elevator. Down that elevator to the first floor (the first floor is actually a parking lot that runs throughout much of the building), leads to a walkway that provides the shortest possible walk from the building to a pool gate.

Then there are the sixth and seventh building units from the lobby, between which is the Pumbaa elevator. All the rooms on the Pembe savanna side of those two building units actually directly overlook the Pembe savanna and thus give you an actual savanna view. If you want a chance of getting one of those rooms, you should request a room near the Pumbaa elevator. Just be aware that actually getting that request granted will mean you will have a very long walk from room to lobby, store, restaurant, and bus station (Kidani, at near 2/3 mile in length, is one of the longest hotel-like buildings in the world -- and I mean on earth, not just Disney World).

My head is spinning. lol. Thanks for the taking the time. I appreciate you!

 

[DaviVascaino]

We always do split stays and having Disney move your luggage for you is very easy, but you may have to wait until late afternoon to get it. My DD and I just did a 4 resort split, with AKL being the last in line. We had Disney move our luggage for each. We called bell services each morning we were moving and they were up to our room to pick up our luggage within 15 minutes. Then, after we were assigned a room at our next resort, we would call down to bell services to have our luggage delivered. At all three of the new resorts, they said that our previous resort had not delivered luggage yet and to call back in an hour. I am pretty sure that we had our luggage by 5:30ish at the latest at all three. We always packed a take-along bag with swimsuits and whatever else we would need for that day to take with us.

sounds good. We are planning to just take carry on luggage, so can I just drop the luggage ourselves at bell services on our way out to the park and pick it up at the other resort later afternoon? thanks!

 

[sndral]

sounds good. We are planning to just take carry on luggage, so can I just drop the luggage ourselves at bell services on our way out to the park and pick it up at the other resort later afternoon? thanks!

I’m not patient enough to wait in my villa for bell services, so I always take my luggage down & pick it up directly from the bell services counters.

 

[Chili327]

sounds good. We are planning to just take carry on luggage, so can I just drop the luggage ourselves at bell services on our way out to the park and pick it up at the other resort later afternoon? thanks!

Yep, it’s great!

I’m not patient enough to wait in my villa for bell services, so I always take my luggage down & pick it up directly from the bell services counters.

Agree, don’t wait, just drop it off on your way out.!!

 

[Wayland10]

A WL is all or nothing. If you grab each night as it pops up, you do run the risk of getting only one or two but not all 3 nights. In that case, if I don’t want to take a chance that I might have to move, I set the WL for all the nights I want and hope for the best. Even though it’s less likely to come through, it guarantees I won’t have to move.

I got my waitlist! Jambo, here we come!

 

[izzy]

Stupid question- I’m booked in a Jambo savanna view studio for a week in mid-October. Should I put in any type of room location request? I usually stay in standard or value studios there but had enough points to upgrade this time. I’d love a room with a view of the Arusha savanna, but for some reason I was thinking I read something years ago that they wouldn’t take this particular request. Any suggestions on how to word a request that might get me a better chance of an Arusha view? And yes, I realize this is just a request and would not guarantee anything.

 

[sndral]

Stupid question- I’m booked in a Jambo savanna view studio for a week in mid-October. Should I put in any type of room location request? I usually stay in standard or value studios there but had enough points to upgrade this time. I’d love a room with a view of the Arusha savanna, but for some reason I was thinking I read something years ago that they wouldn’t take this particular request. Any suggestions on how to word a request that might get me a better chance of an Arusha view? And yes, I realize this is just a request and would not guarantee anything.

I’d probably word my request as Zebra trail, Arusha savanna view. Although there are some savanna views on Zebra trail overlooking Uzima savanna, most of them overlook Arusha savanna. Also, the elevators on Zebra trail lead directly down to the pool/Mara which is pretty convenient IMO .

 

[Chili327]

better chance of an Arusha view?

I would say exactly that. If that savanna is most important.

 

[yaksack]

We have a reservation 10/4-10/09/24 in Kidani. Is there a place to fill refillable mugs in Kidani?

 

[Simba's Mom]

We have a reservation 10/4-10/09/24 in Kidani. Is there a place to fill refillable mugs in Kidani?

The only place I ever found was in the little gift shop in the lobby. It's across from the freezer section. I liked it because it was on the way to/from the bus stop, and if you mobile ordered at Sanaa, it was pretty much on your way back to the room (or you could stop in beforehand).

 

[yaksack]

The only place I ever found was in the little gift shop in the lobby. It's across from the freezer section. I liked it because it was on the way to/from the bus stop, and if you mobile ordered at Sanaa, it was pretty much on your way back to the room (or you could stop in beforehand).

Is it 24/7 service?